2. Where Are We? CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT! Historical Context
Theological Context
Flow of Paul’s Argument
“Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome” (Suetonius, Life of Claudius, 25.2). Acts 18:2 speaks of this edict: “After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.” If Rome was anything like Jerusalem, there were major factions fighting each other over ethnic divides and the nature of the Law. Best guess is it was the same in Rome. This would also explain Paul’s treatise on the nature of salvation that we see in his letter to the Romans. Regardless, we know the gospel moved forward, so much so that by ad 63 there is evidence of Christians in the upper echelon of Rome, even Caesar’s household (Phil 4:22).

3. Sin Chapter 1: No Excuses (Gentiles Guilty)
Chapter 2: No Distinction (Jews Guilty)
Chapter 3: Guilty (Everyone Guilty)

4. Sin (Romans 3) What are the questions Paul is answering?
What is the advantage of being a Jew? (3:1-4)
Is God just? (3:5-8)
Are Jews better than Gentiles? (3:9-20)
“No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law . . .”
Romans 3:20a

5. Righteousness from God Revealed
What is the “righteousness of God”? (3:21)
“We have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
1 John 2:1
Cf. Acts 3:14, 7:52, 22:14

6. Righteousness from God Revealed
What is the “righteousness of God?” (3:21)
“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”
C. S. Lewis, “The Obstinate Toy Soldiers” in Mere Christianity

7. Righteousness from God Revealed
What is the “righteousness of God”? (3:21)
Justification is free by grace through faith in the sacrifice of the Son. (3:22-25)
God is both just AND the one who justifies. (3:26)

8. Sin (Romans 3) What are the questions Paul is answering?
What is the advantage of being a Jew? (3:1-4)
Is God just? (3:5-8)
Are Jews better than Gentiles? (3:9-20)
Can we boast in good works? (3:27-31)
The ground is level at the foot of the cross. All you have and all you bring is NOTHING.

10. Announcements Please be sure to sign in and print a name tag.
You were sent an at 6 a.m. today with your small group room number. If you didn’t receive it, the Welcome Center volunteers have your room number.
If you have not registered and have not arranged to be in a particular group, then stay in here and come to the front. Hil Bowman and Rob Heath will lead the Open Group that meets in here.
If your group meets on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the West Tower, please use the skybridge to the 2nd floor.
Nathan Wagnon will be speaking next week! Don’t miss it!